Separating apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

In a separating apparatus having a downwardly extending grid and means for delivering material to be separated onto an upper end portion of the grid, said grid being formed of elements spaced one from the other a distance sufficient for separating balled filaments and elongated filaments from pellets, conduits extend across the grid and have a plurality of openings directed along the upper surface of the grid and through the grid for passing pressurized fluid streams therealong and therethrough.

United States Patent [1 1 Fenska 51 Sept. 4, 1973 SEPARATING APPARATUS AND METHOD [75] Inventor: Edward E. Fenska, Bartlesville,

Okla.

[73] Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company,

Bartlesville, Okla.

22 Filed: Mar. 7, 1972 21 Appl.No.:232,449

[52] US. Cl. 209/99, 209/393 [51] Int. Cl B07b 1/12 [58] Field of Search 209/97, 99, 120,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Burke 209/394 3/1958 Musgrave 209/393 X 4/1970 Ranger 209/99 X Primary ExaminerRichard A. Schacher Attorney-Quigg and Oberlin [5 7] ABSTRACT In a separating apparatus having a downwardly extending grid and means for delivering material to be separated onto an upper end portion of the grid, said grid being formed of elements spaced one from the other a distance sufficient for separating balled filaments and elongated filaments from pellets, conduits extend across the grid and have a plurality of openings directed along the upper surface of the grid and through the grid for passing pressurized fluid streams therealong and therethrough.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures SEPARATING APPARATUS AND METHOD In an inclined grid separating apparatus and method, it is desirable to provide means to facilitate movement of the materials along the surface of the grid for improving the separation of components of the material.

This invention therefore resides in an improved separating apparatus and method having a downwardly extending grid and means for delivering material to be separated onto an upper end portion of the grid. Said grid is formed of elements spaced one from the other a distance sufficient for separating pellet globules and elongated filaments from pellets. Conduits extend across the grid and have a plurality of openings directed along the upper surface of the grid and through the grid for passing pressurized fluid streams therealong and therethrough.

Other aspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a study of the disclosure, the appended claims, and the drawings.

The drawings are diagrammatic views of the apparatus of this invention.

FIG. 1 shows a side view of the apparatus,

FIG. 2 shows a view of the grid of the apparatus, and

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the grid.

Referring to FIG. 1, a housing 2 having first and second outlets 4, 6 and an inlet 8 is positioned about a downwardly extending separating apparatus or grid 10. A material hopper 12 contains materials to be separated and extends through the housing inlet 8 with its discharge end 14 adjacent and over an upper end portion 16 of an upper surface 18 of the grid 10.

A blower 20 can be positioned adjacent a lower surface 22 of the grid for passing a volume of air through the housing 2 and the grid 10 in a direction from the lower surface 22 toward the upper surface 18 of the grid 10.

The first outlet 4 is in communication with the lower surface 22 of the grid 10 for delivering separated material, pellets for example, to a preselected location. The second outlet 6 is in communication with the upper surface 18 of the grid 10 for directing material that does not pass through the grid 10, for example balled filaments and elongated filaments, to another preselected location, for example a disposal location.

As known-in the art, during the manufacture of pellets or granular polymers, the granular polymers can be accompanied by balled filaments called bird nests," fine particles called fines and elongated filaments or film streamers called angel hair.

By use of the term pellets 26 herein, it is meant the desired product particles. By use of the term balled filaments 28 utilized herein is meant a conglomeration of entangled elongated filaments sometimes called bird nest. By use of the term elongated filaments 29 utilized herein is meant the elongated strips or film streamers sometimes called angel hair.

Therefore during the operation of separators of this type, the pellets 26 pass through the grid 10 and outwardly through the first oulet 4 to a recovery situs. The balled filaments 28 and the elongated filaments 29 do not pass through the grid 10 and are directed into and through the second outlet 6 to another location where they are recovered and disposed of. At least a portion of the fines can be removed from the pellets 26 by a stream of air passing from the blower through the second outlet 6.

In order to facilitate separation of the pellets 26 from the accompanying material, a first conduit 30 is positioned across the grid 10 adjacent the upper end portion 16 and the upper surface 18 of the grid 10. The first conduit 30 has a plurality of openings 32 directed along the upper surface of the grid 10.

The first conduit 30 is connected to a pressurized fluid supply source 34, for example an air compressor, for passing air into and through the conduit 30, through the conduit openings 32, and along the upper surface 18 of the grid 10.

In order to further facilitate separation of the pellets 26 from the accompanying material, a second conduit 36 is positioned across the grid 10 adjacent a lower end portion 38 of the grid 10 and the lower surface 22 of the grid 10. The second conduit 36 has a plurality of openings 40 directed toward the grid 10.

The second conduit 36 is also connected to a pressurized air supply source, preferably source 34, for passing air into and through the conduit 36, through the conduit openings 40, and the grid 10.

Referring to FIG. 2, the grid 10 is preferably formed of elongated, separating or grid elements 42. These grid elements 42 are preferably of a curvalinear concave configuration in order that the elements can be of greater stiffness and the spacing between the elements 42 can be maintained without further bracing which might decrease the efficiency of separation. In order to further increase the rigidity of elements 42, it is preferred that the elements be maintained in tension along their length by exerting opposed forces on opposite ends of the elements with said forces being directed in opposed directions. The elements 42 can be corrugated or of other configuration.

It is also preferred that removable spacing elements 44 be positioned between adjacent grid elements 42 in order that the distance of separation A between adjacent grid elements 42 can be easily changed when the materials to be separated are changed.

It is also preferred that the openings 40 of the second conduits 36 be aligned and directed toward the spaces S between adjacent grid elements 42 and that there i be an opening adjacent eachspace.

It has also been found that a preferred angle of inclination (in FIG. 3) of the grid 10 is an angle in the range of about 12 to about 26 relative to the horizontal. At angles less than about 12 the material tends to pile up on the grid 10, and at angles greater than about 26 excessive amounts of pellets are not separated and pass through the second outlet 6, thereby resulting in waste.

In the method of this invention, the air streams passing from the openings 32 contact the material discharging from the hopper 12 and stir said material on the grid 10 thereby facilitating the separation of the pellets by bringing said pellets to unrestricted locations above the spaces S of the grid 10. Where such an air stream is not provided, pellets 26 often become supported by elongated filaments 29 and/or the balled filaments 28 and are moved by the undesirable material into the second outlet 6 thereby causing waste.

The air streams discharging from openings 40 contact the elongated filaments 29 and balled filaments 28 and cause them to be urged upwardly for further assuring that said materials 28, 29 are not supporting pellets and causing pellets to be separated from the materials.

Referring to FIG. 3, in order to further assure that materials 28, 29 are not supporting pellets, at least a portion, preferably all, of the grid elements 42 adjacent the second conduit 36 have an abrupt change in width W" forming an interrupted upper surface 18. The interruption 50 is of a magnitude such that material 26, 28, 29 moving along the upper surface 18 of the grid elements 42 free fall at the location of the interruption 50 from the upper end portion 16 to the lower end portion 38 of the grid elements 42.

In this construction, as the materials free fall, the fluid passing from the second conduit 36 can cause tumbling and further separation of the materials 26, 28, 29.

By the use of the improved apparatus and method of this invention, material separations are more efficient and the amount of waste is reduced.

Other modifications and alterations of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing discussion and accompanying drawings, and it should be understood that this invention is not to be unduly limited thereto.

I claim:

1. In a method for separating at least one component from a material comprising a plurality of components by passing said at least one component between spaced-apart separating elements of a grid and separating said at least one component from the others by said separating element, the improvement comprising:

directing a first stream of air against the material and along the upper surface of the grid; and directing a second stream of air through the grid and against the lower surfaces of material passing along the grid.

2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, including moving the material downwardly along the grid at an angle in the range of about 12 to about 26 relative to the horizontal.

3. In a separating apparatus having a downwardly extending grid and means for delivering material to be separated onto an upper end portion of the grid, said grid being formed of grid elements spaced one from the other a distance sufficient for passing pellets between the grids for separating pellet globules and elongated filaments from the pellets, the improvement comprising:

a first conduit extending across the grid adjacent the upper end portion and an upper surface ofthe grid, said conduit having a plurality of openings directed along the upper surface of the grid;

a second conduit extending across the grid adjacent a lower end portion of the grid and a lower surface of the grid, said conduit having a plurality of openings directed toward the grid for passing air from the conduit upwardly through the grid; and

means for passing pressurized air through the first and second conduits and their respective openings.

4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the grid elements are of a curvilinear configuration.

5. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the grid elements are maintained in compression along their length.

6. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the grid elements have removable spacers between adjacent grid elements for changing the distance of separation between said elements, the grid is maintained at an angle in the range of about 12 to about 26 relative to the horizontal, and the openings of the second conduit are directed toward the spacers between said grid elements.

7. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the grid elements have removable spacers between adjacent grid elements for changing the distance of separation between the elements.

8. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the openings of the second conduit are directed toward the spaces between said grid elements.

9. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the grid is maintained at an angle in the range of about 12 to about 26 relative to the horizontal. 

1. In a method for separating at least one component from a material comprising a plurality of components by passing said at least one component between spaced-apart separating elements of a grid and separating said at least one component from the others by said separating element, the improvement comprising: directing a first stream of air against the material and along the upper surface of the grid; and directing a second stream of air through the grid and against the lower surfaces of material passing along the grid.
 2. A method, as set forth in claim 1, including moving the material downwardly along the grid at an angle in the range of about 12* to about 26* relative to the horizontal.
 3. In a separating apparatus having a downwardly extending grid and means for delivering material to be separated onto an upper end portion of the grid, said grid being formed of grid elements spaced one from the other a distance sufficient for passing pellets between the grids for separating pellet globules and elongated filaments from the pellets, the improvement comprising: a first conduit extending across the grid adjacent the upper end portion and an upper surface of the grid, said conduit having a plurality of openings directed along the upper surface of the grid; a second conduit extending across the grid adjacent a lower end portion of the grid and a lower surface of the grid, said conduit having a plurality of openings directed toward the grid for passing air from the conduit upwardly through the grid; and means for passing pressurized air through the first and second conduits and their respective openings.
 4. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the grid elements are of a curvilinear configuration.
 5. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the grid elements are maintained in compression along their length.
 6. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the grid elements have removable spacers between adjacent grid elements for changing the distance of separation between said elements, the grid is maintained at an angle in the range of about 12* to about 26* relative to the horizontal, and the openings of the second conduit are directed toward the spacers between said grid elements.
 7. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the grid elements have removable spacers between adjacent grid elements for changing the distance of separation between the elements.
 8. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the openings of the second conduit are directed toward the spaces between said grid elements.
 9. An apparatus, as set forth in claim 3, wherein the grid is maintained at an angle in the range of about 12* to about 26* relative to the horizontal. 